The Kamuthi Solar Power Plant occupies an area of 2,500 acres which is equal to the area of almost 60 Taj Mahals! Over 25 lakh solar panels are there within this solar power plant.
Currently, it powers 2.65 lakh homes. With a capacity of 648 MW, it has generated over 800 crore units of electricity till now.
Here are some quick facts about the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant:
Kamuthi Solar Power Plant Location | Sengapaddai, Pudukottai, and O’Karisalkulam villages, Kamuthi taluka, Ramanthpuram district, Tamil Nadu |
Kamuthi Solar Power Plant Capacity | 648 MW of Solar Power |
Area | 2500 hectare |
Number of Solar Panels | 25.38 lakh |
Cost of Building Kamuthi Solar Power Plant | Rs. 4,550 crore |
Date of Full-Capacity Commissioning | 18 September 2016 |
The Kamuthi Solar Power Project Tamil Nadu was developed in 5 phases. We have provided a detailed breakdown in the following table:
Companies | Capacity | Date of Commissioning | Achievement |
Ramnad Solar Power Limited (RSPL) | 72 MW | 8 February 2016 | Largest in Tamil Nadu |
Adani Green Energy TN Limited (AGETL) | 216 MW | 11 March 2016 | India’s largest |
Ramnad Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) | 72 MW | 31 March 2016 | Asia’s largest |
Kamuthi Solar Power Limited (KSPL) | 216 MW | 18 September 2016 | World’s largest |
Kamuthi Renewable Energy Limited (KREL) | 72 MW | 18 September 2016 | World’s largest |
Over 25 lakh solar panels have been installed at the Kamuthi Solar Power Park. Here’s how many solar panels were installed by different developers:
Name of Company | Number of Solar Panels |
Ramnad Solar Power Limited (RSPL) | 2,78,440 |
Adani Green Energy TN Limited (AGETL) | 8,29,440 |
Ramnad Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) | 3,26,048 |
Kamuthi Solar Power Limited (KSPL) | 8,28,480 |
Kamuthi Renewable Energy Limited (KREL) | 2,76,444 |
Total Solar Panels | 25,38,852 |
You can read our blog on the best solar panels in India if you are interested in installing a solar system.
The Kamuthi Solar Power Plant powers 2,65,000 homes through its connection with a 400 kV substation of the Tamil Nadu Transmission Corporation Limited (TANTRANSCO). As per a news report published in The New Indian Express, the Kamuthi Solar Project has an average daily electricity production of 30 lakh units. It has generated over 800 crore units of electricity since its commissioning.
Several innovative technologies have been used at the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant. We have covered them below:
In most of Kamuthi Solar Power Project Tamil Nadu, monofacial polycrystalline solar panels have been used. But in a 25 MW pilot project over the final 2 phases of the solar park, the following solar panels were used:
Solar Panel Technology | Capacity |
Bifacial Solar Panels | 1.25 MW |
Thin Film | 10 MW |
Seasonal Tilt | 5 MW |
Single Axis Tracking | 8.75 MW |
Our blog on types of solar panels covers all the solar panel technologies available in the market.
Kamuthi Solar Power Plant uses single-axis tracker for maximising power production.
The single-axis trackers follow the sun’s movement along the east-west axis. It moves from -45° to +45°. A Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) is used to regulate the movement of the tracker.
Our blog on solar tracking systems covers the functioning of solar tracking systems in detail.
Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), a leading international brand in electrification and automation, created the automation and electrification system of Adani Solar Power Plant Kamuthi. As the Kamuthi Solar Project consists of 5 separate solar plants, it was important to integrate them across a single automation platform.
To ensure that the grid remains safe and secure, the power supply to the grid must remain reliable and stable. For example, cloudy weather can lead to fluctuation in power production which can damage the grid. ABB’s system will ensure that power production remains stable so that the grid is safe. It allows remote monitoring of the solar park.
Ecoppia robots clean the solar panels in Kamuthi. They are fully automated and clean the solar panels without using any water.
The robots have a solar module of their own, thus they don’t require any external power source. Ecoppia robots clean their solar panels and microfiber cleaners on their own.
25 large robots clean the solar panels at 100 revolutions per minute. These robots move up and down along a rectangular frame. When a section is cleaned, the frame moves sideways for cleaning other panels. 1 robot cleans a line of 245 m in about 2 hours. The cleaning is performed with the help of microfibres.
As per Vneet Jaain, CEO of Adani Power, 3 factors made Kamuthi suitable for setting up a solar power plant:
Here are the nearest road, rail, and air links to the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant:
Nearest Airport | Madurai (90 km) |
Nearest Road | Porthbanur – Kamuthi – Arruppukottai Road (Adjoining Site) |
Nearest Port | Tuticorin Port (110 km) |
Nearest Railway Station | Tiruchuli, Tamil Nadu (25 km) |
From inverters and transformers to cement and cables, here’s how much equipment was used at the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant:
Equipment | Numbers |
Pile Foundations | 3,80,000 |
Module Mounting Structure | 27,000 |
Solar Modules | 25,00,000 |
String Combiner Boxes | 5,500 |
Inverters | 576 |
Transformers | 154 |
Switchyards | 5 |
Perimeter Wall / Fencing | 62 km |
Length of Internal Roads | 58 km |
Length of Cables | 7,700 km |
Cement Consumption | 30,000 metric tonnes |
Below you can find the list of major equipment suppliers at the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant:
Are you curious about the best solar companies for installing a solar system? You can learn about the top solar companies in India from our blog.
When a solar plant saves and harvests more water than it consumes, it is called water positive. An assessment by Norwegian company DNV found that the Kamuthi Solar Project turned water positive in 2020-21. While 35,670 m3 of water was used at the Kamuthi Solar Project, 52,982 m3 of water credit was earned, thus leading to a surplus of water.
One major initiative for water conservation at Kamuthi is the deepening of ponds. It helps reduce water loss due to evaporation and prevents the water from getting muddy and shallow. The villagers had also requested pond deepening for water conservation.
The Kamuthi Solar Power Plant was built in a record span of 8 months. Built with an investment of Rs. 4,550 crore, it has over 25 lakh solar panels. It is home to innovations such as robots for cleaning solar panels, and thin film solar panels. Kamuthi is one of the few water-positive solar plants in India and the world. It is playing a vital role in helping India meet its international renewable energy commitments.
The solar park has a capacity of 648 MW.
The Adani Solar Power Plant Kamuthi has 25,38,852 solar panels.
Adani Green Energy built the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant through its subsidiaries.
The Madurai Airport is the nearest airport to the Kamuthi Solar Power Plant.
Mostly polycrystalline solar panels are used at the Kamuthi Solar Park. Apart from that, a pilot project saw the use of bifacial and thin film solar panels.
Mr Das’ expertise spans various aspects of solar energy, including photovoltaic technology, solar thermal systems, and energy storage solutions. He contributes profusely to our blogs to share his keen knowledge and expertise with those seeking information regarding solar system installation. He brings a wealth of practical knowledge and real-world experience to his writing. His articles offer valuable guidance on navigating the intricacies of solar energy projects, from site assessment and system sizing to financing options and maintenance strategies.